On sunday the 17th July I got a bike from the guest house -- 50R for a day, good deal I guess. I'll keep it till wednesday, so I'm much more mobile now! First I just rode through Pondy, looking at the city from a new perspective and exploring new corners, where I wasn't that often yet.
I was searching for different things, but unfortunately most shops were closed. Only the ones I didn't need were also open on sundays...
But I was able to attend a collective meditation in the ashram. It toke place in the "ashram playground". This is an open building, in the middle is sand.
The meditation itself was quite weird... First people watched 9 old men and 4 old women do some exercise (a guy kept shouting the commands through a bug megaphone and the people did accordingly). They walked aroung the sandpit up and down, now and then streching a little.
At 19:45 they gathered and the entire crowd of people, which had come for the meditation grouped together around them, while they were looking at the Sri Aurobindo sign - a painting on a wall of the "gym".
Then the old people left and the rest sat on the sand, most faced the mural, others faced a small room with a bust of Aurobindo, decorated with flowers etc.
I was searching for different things, but unfortunately most shops were closed. Only the ones I didn't need were also open on sundays...
But I was able to attend a collective meditation in the ashram. It toke place in the "ashram playground". This is an open building, in the middle is sand.
The meditation itself was quite weird... First people watched 9 old men and 4 old women do some exercise (a guy kept shouting the commands through a bug megaphone and the people did accordingly). They walked aroung the sandpit up and down, now and then streching a little.
At 19:45 they gathered and the entire crowd of people, which had come for the meditation grouped together around them, while they were looking at the Sri Aurobindo sign - a painting on a wall of the "gym".
Then the old people left and the rest sat on the sand, most faced the mural, others faced a small room with a bust of Aurobindo, decorated with flowers etc.
Then the lights were turned off, so in theory you were able to see the clear night sky (and stars). But because the rest of the city didn't stop to be busy, honking, barking and other sounds could be heard and the illuminated city only let very few stars be visible.
Then the voice of "the mother" was heard. She said something in french, so I wasn't able to understand it. Just a few words, but nothing to make any sense of it.
This went on for 30 minutes. Then the lights were turned on again and the people slowly moved outside of the building.
Weird was, that a woman carried a chair into the courtyard, which stayed empty during the meditation and then brought it back inside. I am not sure if usually someone sits there and says the meditating words instead or if it is a symbol for the empty chair Aurobindo and the mother left...
I will check out the meditation in the Ashram itself, maybe that will be different. Sofar it was rather unsetteling than soothing. The mothers voice was of her in an old age, so I felt worried for her, rather than inspired (additionally of course, because I don't understand french...)
Then the voice of "the mother" was heard. She said something in french, so I wasn't able to understand it. Just a few words, but nothing to make any sense of it.
This went on for 30 minutes. Then the lights were turned on again and the people slowly moved outside of the building.
Weird was, that a woman carried a chair into the courtyard, which stayed empty during the meditation and then brought it back inside. I am not sure if usually someone sits there and says the meditating words instead or if it is a symbol for the empty chair Aurobindo and the mother left...
I will check out the meditation in the Ashram itself, maybe that will be different. Sofar it was rather unsetteling than soothing. The mothers voice was of her in an old age, so I felt worried for her, rather than inspired (additionally of course, because I don't understand french...)
On Tuesday I went to the Museum. Very small and cosy! I thought it was great, that most of the exhibits had a simple paper underneath explaining it. And if something new were to be "discovered", it was simply added by pen later on. For example a few bronze statues are from a certain period, they wrote with a pen on it. At first the age was left clear.
Same was with some coins. One row of coins was supposed to be russian. But one of them was actually greek, so they just put a sticker over the old writing saying its russian, now explaining its greek.
Interesting was also, that the old Roman Empire seemed to have a rather extensive trading relationship with India. The museum showed many shards of old roman amphoras.
Upstairs were alot of things from the colonial times. Like pianos, busts, paintings and small decorative statues, figurines and such.
Unfortunately I had bought a ticket at 12:40 and the museum closed for lunch break at 1 pm. So I just had 20 minutes left to see the museum (which I didn't know). The ticket guy could have told me, but didn't. When I was told to hurry up, I was confused and asked if I could come back later. That guy just told me I should just have a look at everything now... Luckily the lady at the ticket office let me in later to see the bronze gallery (the last room I wasn't able to visit before lunch)!
After that I explored the bothanical garden. Nice and green, not much information on which plants are growing there, though I saw a few mahagony and teak trees. It had a few nice things. A "Joy Train" - probably mostly for kids to drive around the garden, the green house was just a house with a green net over it...
Then there were a few fenced gardens, which were in a little better shape. On weekends they have a waterlight show, sadly I didn't know this before... Probably would have been nice! And they have a small aquarium. Amalie and I saw the aquariums in Tiruvannamalai, her theory was, that the Indians don't see the dead fish. This theory was enforced after seeing this place... I was told, that most of the Garden was destroyed due to the Tsunami in 2003, so they are still rebuilding the Garden. I hope it goes well! It surely is a nice spot!
Same was with some coins. One row of coins was supposed to be russian. But one of them was actually greek, so they just put a sticker over the old writing saying its russian, now explaining its greek.
Interesting was also, that the old Roman Empire seemed to have a rather extensive trading relationship with India. The museum showed many shards of old roman amphoras.
Upstairs were alot of things from the colonial times. Like pianos, busts, paintings and small decorative statues, figurines and such.
Unfortunately I had bought a ticket at 12:40 and the museum closed for lunch break at 1 pm. So I just had 20 minutes left to see the museum (which I didn't know). The ticket guy could have told me, but didn't. When I was told to hurry up, I was confused and asked if I could come back later. That guy just told me I should just have a look at everything now... Luckily the lady at the ticket office let me in later to see the bronze gallery (the last room I wasn't able to visit before lunch)!
After that I explored the bothanical garden. Nice and green, not much information on which plants are growing there, though I saw a few mahagony and teak trees. It had a few nice things. A "Joy Train" - probably mostly for kids to drive around the garden, the green house was just a house with a green net over it...
Then there were a few fenced gardens, which were in a little better shape. On weekends they have a waterlight show, sadly I didn't know this before... Probably would have been nice! And they have a small aquarium. Amalie and I saw the aquariums in Tiruvannamalai, her theory was, that the Indians don't see the dead fish. This theory was enforced after seeing this place... I was told, that most of the Garden was destroyed due to the Tsunami in 2003, so they are still rebuilding the Garden. I hope it goes well! It surely is a nice spot!
In the evening I headed out to the ashram, to try the meditation there. It was nice and calm. More mosquitos than the last place, but also more tranquill. No recording voice was being played in the background, which alowed one to more or less concentrate on the nothingness, or just meditate. In my case meditate how to kill the mosquitos around me in the darkness...
Inside I had the feeling a few people used it more to worship the Mother and Sri Aurobindo than real meditation. They were leaning and touching the grave Sri Aurobindo is burried in. This is something, that bugs me with the ashrams. Its mostly all about the one person (or two in this case). They are being worshipped as gods and devine, though I think the people themselves don't really want that (of course I can't be sure about that). This makes it very religious (see Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed). But more of a cult around the specific ones, who founded the ashram, and more than the founders would have wanted I guess. Somehow it annoys me, to see a picture of an old man all over. A postcard in an Ashram will probably just show a close up of the founders face, smiling at you or him sitting somewhere smiling... Not what I'm looking for.
I'd say this reflects a part of Indias religious side. Many people seem to adore a picture/ statue/ something touchable and/or visible. So being the founder of an idea and an ashram makes you probably the most real thing and therefore a object to pray to.
But I guess, as long as they somehow help people and are willing to do good in the world, it might not be bad. Of course the Mother and Sri Aurobindo were important people and some say they were even devine (this is what I'm talking about), and because I don't know what exactly they are teaching and what their idea of life and the universe is, I can't really judge about that. So It stays at the criticism: Too many fotos and too much of them as the focus point of the ashram/ followers.
But I guess, as long as they somehow help people and are willing to do good in the world, it might not be bad. Of course the Mother and Sri Aurobindo were important people and some say they were even devine (this is what I'm talking about), and because I don't know what exactly they are teaching and what their idea of life and the universe is, I can't really judge about that. So It stays at the criticism: Too many fotos and too much of them as the focus point of the ashram/ followers.
Last day in Pondy! Cooking is fun and because I love the indian food, I thought to myself, why not try and learn a few things! So while I was at Sitas (see the other Pondy post) I booked a cooking lesson.
Again with Manisha: Pierre (a french guy here on vacation) and I went to the market and bought a few ingredients, we needed. She explaned ALOT of things, next time I'll need a GoPro (or another handy camera) to capture it all... But she did the buying and mentioned, if you pick out the nice fruits they usually charge you more. But then you know its really good fruits and vegetables! And probably if you're not Indian you'll also pay more...
So back at Sita we went to the kitchen and started chopping, cutting and mixing. Again alot of things to do and to remember... She told us, we would get the recipes etc. via email.
But it was fun and I think I might have memorised a few things. Maybe I can try it again somewhere so I don't forget everything ;)
At the end we ate lunch together. Very nice and I must say, we did a fine job! It tasted good (but of course if you have a mentor by your side alot must go wrong, that the result is bad) and we enjoyed a nice Dhal sauce, Chicken Masala Curry and eggplants as vegetable. Desert was mostly made of carrots and milk, also very good! Manisha was pleased aswell, so that was a good sign ^^
Again with Manisha: Pierre (a french guy here on vacation) and I went to the market and bought a few ingredients, we needed. She explaned ALOT of things, next time I'll need a GoPro (or another handy camera) to capture it all... But she did the buying and mentioned, if you pick out the nice fruits they usually charge you more. But then you know its really good fruits and vegetables! And probably if you're not Indian you'll also pay more...
So back at Sita we went to the kitchen and started chopping, cutting and mixing. Again alot of things to do and to remember... She told us, we would get the recipes etc. via email.
But it was fun and I think I might have memorised a few things. Maybe I can try it again somewhere so I don't forget everything ;)
At the end we ate lunch together. Very nice and I must say, we did a fine job! It tasted good (but of course if you have a mentor by your side alot must go wrong, that the result is bad) and we enjoyed a nice Dhal sauce, Chicken Masala Curry and eggplants as vegetable. Desert was mostly made of carrots and milk, also very good! Manisha was pleased aswell, so that was a good sign ^^
These were all over the Ashram Guest House... Today could be the best day to stop smoking!
I bet the Todd couldn't resist this Hi-5 Oppurtunity!
Silence! I kill you! - A table just for a silence sign... and no one bothered, everyone was talking and laughing in these rooms... (educational Rooms of the Botanical Garden)
Small pond in the botanical garden... probably infested by Mosquitos...
Fish in the Aquarium of the botanical garden
Now This is a Bombay Toast!
And Falooda :D
Bomb Squad of the Pondy Police...
Shopping in the market - big bags everywhere!
Cooking the Chicken Masala
This is hanging in the streets of Pondy, completely recycled parts (mainly plastic bottles)
Am Sonntag den 17. habe ich mir ein Fahrrad vom Guest House ausgeliehen - 50 Rupee pro Tag ist ganz günstig. And ich kann es bis Mittwoch behalten, also bin ich viel flexibler und schneller unterwegs! Also habe ich die Stadt etwas mit dem Rad erkundet und mir neue Winkel der Stadt angeschautr
Ich war auch auf der Suche nach neuen Sachen, habe diese nicht gefunden... Die Läden, die ich brauchte waren geschlossen, viele andere am Sonntag dann doch geöffnet... Aber ich habe an der "Gemeinsamen Meditation" des Ashram im "playground" (Spielplatz) teilgenommen. Das ist ein offenes Gebäude, in der Mitte ist Sand, auf dem viele Menschen Sport machen etc. Eine große Wand ist weiß gehalten, damit man dort auch wie im Kino Filme sehen kann.
Die Meditation selbst war etwas merkwürdig... Erst haben wir noch 9 alten Männern und 4 alten Frauen beim Sport zugeschaut.Ein Mann hat ständig Befehle durch Lautsprecher gerufen und die alten MEnschen haben gehorcht und die Dehnübungen ausgeführt. Sie liefen im Kreis im Sand und machten ihre Übungen. Bis es schließlich 19:45 war. Dann (auf einen Befehl des Lautsprechers) haben die Männer (von den Frauen getrennt) sich gesammelt und die Menschen, die sich zu Meditation eingefunden hatte sammelten sich um diese. Alle blickten auf das Symbol des Ashrams Sri Aurobindo, welches an der Wand des Sportbereichs gemalt war.
Die älteren Menschen entfernten sich und die für die Meditation haben sich hingesetzt. Die meisten haben sich Richtung Gemälde hingesetzt. Andere waren in der Nähe einer Tür, die offen war und in der sich eine Büste des Sri Aurobindo befand, die mit Blumen beschmückt war. Die haben sich der Tür zugewandt.
Dann wurden die Lichter nach und nach ausgeschaltet, sodass man theoretisch den Sternenhimmel erblicken konnte. Aber da die restliche Stadt nicht meditierte, hörte man weiterhin Hupen, Bellen und andere Geräusche einer Stadt. Außerdem ist die Stadt dann doch weiterhin so hell beleuchtet, dass nur wenige Sterne erkennbar waren.
Also die Lichter waren aus und darauf ertönte eine Aufnahme der "Mother". Sie erzählte etwas, leider auf Französisch, sodass ich das nicht verstanden habe (bzw. nur einzelne Wörter, also keinen wirklichen Sinn). Dies ging 30 Minuten. Dann wurden die Lichter wieder angemacht und die Menschen bewegten sich langsam wieder nach draußen.
Komisch fand ich zusätzlich , dass eine Frau einen Stuhl vor das Symbol des Ashrams gestellt hat, niemand sich draufsetzte und danach wieder wegtrug. Ich weiß nicht, ob sonst jemand darauf sitzt und nur heute Abend nicht oder ob es als Symbol stehen soll, dass die weisen Gurus, the Mutter und Sri Aurobindo fehlen... Es war eher etwas aufwühlend als entspannend. Die Aufnahme der Stimme der Mutter war in ihrem hohen Alter, ich machte mir eher Sorgen um sie, als inspiriert zu werden (zusätzlich war natürlich, dass ich kein französisch verstehe...)
Am Dienstag ging es ins Museum. Es ist recht klein und Fotos waren wieder mal verboten... Ich fand es großartig wie sie mit ihrer Ausstellung umgingen. Meist waren nur kleine Papierzettel unter den Ausstellungsstücken zu sehen, die es "erklärten". Und wenn etwas neues "entdeckt" wurde, dann wurde es einfach per Kugelschreiber später hinzugefügt. Z.B. gab es einige Bronze Statuen einer bestimmten Zeitperiode, welche später ergänzt wurde. Davor stand bei "Alter" nichts.
Gleiches war bei den münzen. Eine Reihe sollten russische Münzen sein. Aber eine Müze war eigentlich griechisch! Also haben sie einfach einen Sticker über den alten Schriftzug (er war eingraviert) geklebt, der besagte, es sei eine russische Münze. Der Aufkleber erklärte nun die griechische Münze.
Interessant war auch, dass das alte römische Imperium scheinbar regen Handel mit Indien betrieb. Das Museum hatte einige Scherben römischer Amphoren. Oben war eine Ausstellung aus der Kolonialzeit. Etwa Flüger, Klaviere, Büsten, Gemälde und kleine dekorative Statuetten, Figuren und sowas.
Ungünstig war, dass ich meine Eintrittskarte um 12:40 gekauft hab, das Museum machte aber zwischen 13 und 14 Uhr Mittagspause. Dementsprechend hatte ich gerade mal 20 Minuten zum Besichtigen (was ich nicht wusste), der Typ, der mir die Karte verkaufte, hätte das aber sagen können. Daher war ich auch verwirrt, als mir jemand sagte, ich solle mich beeilen. Ich fragte, ob ich Nachmittags wieder kommen könne, er sagte ich solle mich einfach mal beeilen, dann klappt das schon... Aber die nette Frau am Kartenschalter später ließ mich aber rein, um die Bronze Galerie zu besichtigen, der einzige Raum, den ich nicht geschafft hatte!
Zum entspannen erkundete ich darauf den bothanischen Garten. Schön grün alles, leider waren nur wenige Pflanzen und Bäume benannt. Aber ich konnte Mahagoni und Teak Bäume sehen. Im Garten selber waren einige nette Sachen. Etwa ein "Joy Train"(Freuden Zug) - eine kleine Lokomotive wahrscheinlich hauptsächlich für Kinder, damit sie im Kreis durch den Garten fahren können. Das Treibhaus war einfach ein Gebäude mit einem grünen Netz darüber...
Die paar eingezäunten Gärten waren besser in Schuss gehalten. Am Wochenende gab es eine "Wasserlicht-Show". Leider habe ich die verpasst, wäre wahrscheinlich ganz schick gewesen. Dann gab es noch ein kleines Aquarium. Amalie und ich habe in Tiruvannamalai auch einige Aquarien gesehen, ihre Theorie war, dass Inder die toten Fische einfach nicht sehen. Hier gab es wieder einige tote Fische, dementsprechend wurde die Theorie bekräftigt. Ich erfuhr später, dass das meiste des Gartens durch den Tsunami vor einigen Jahren den botanischen Garten fast komplett zerstört hat und seitdem die Wiederaufbaumaßnahmen dauern. Sie sind, finde ich, auf einem guten Weg und machen ordentlich was draus! Natürlich steht noch einiges an...
Am Abend ging es dann in das Ashram, ich wollte die Meditation dort mal ausprobieren. Dort hatte ich das Gefühl, dass die Leute eher die Menschen dort anbeten (also die Mutter und Sri Aurobindo) als wirklich meditieren wollten. Dies ist eine Sache, die mich an den Ashrams stört. Sie sind alle an einer Person (in diesem Falle 2 Personen) zentriert aufgebaut und würdigen diese wie Götter, obwohl ich bezweifle, dass diese es selber so wollten (obwohl das nur meine Vermutung ist). Dies macht es sehr religiös (siehe Buddha, Jesus, Mohamed). Und viel kultistischer schätze ich, als die Gründer es haben wollen. Es nervt mich irgendwie überall die Gesichter eines alten Mannes zu sehen. Viele Postkarten im Ashram zeigen Bilder, wie der Gründer irgendwo lächelnd sitzt oder nur sein freundliches Gesicht... Nicht wirklich was ich suche.
Aber ich schätze das spiegelt eine religiöse Seite Indiens. Viele Menshen suchen ein Bild/ Statue/ etwas fassbares und/oder sichtbares zum Anbeten. Also als Gründer eines Ashrams und der Idee, wird man zur Manifestation dieser Idee und zum Kultobjekt.
Ich schätze, solange die Menschen niemand anderes schaden und den Lehren folgen Gutes zu tun, kann es nicht schlecht sein. Die Mutter und Sri Aurobindo waren sicherlich wichtige Personen und Menschen nennen sie göttlich (eben worüber ich hier schreibe), da ich leider ihre Bücher und Lehren nicht gelesen haben und deren Bild des Universums nicht kenne, kann ich nur das "offensichtliche" urteilen. Also bleibt die Kritik: Zu viele Fotos in den Orten und zu viele Fotos als Fokus und Zentrum der Ashrams und ihrer Anhänger.
Dann war auch schon der letzte Tag in Pondy! Da ich gerne koche und ich indisches Essen liebe, habe ich mir gedacht mal etwas auszuprobieren! Als ich in Sitas war (siehe den anderen Pody Beitrag) habe ich einen Kochkurs gebucht.
Wieder war dieser mit Manisha. Mit Pierre (einem Franzosen, der in Indien Urlaub macht) gingen wir zum Markt und haben die Zutaten für das Essen gekauft. Sie hat sehr viel erklärt! Sehr Viel! Nächstes mal müsste ich eine Kamera mitnehmen, um das alles festzuhalten... Sie hat das meiste eingekauft und ggf. verhandelt oder schöne Früchte/ Gemüse rausgesucht. Das ist zwar etwas teurer, aber dafür hat man wohl bessere Zutaten. Wahrscheinlich wird es noch teurer, wenn man nicht Inder ist...
Zurück in Sita ging es ans Kochen! Wir haben geschnibbelt, geschnitten und Sachen zusammen gerührt. Wieder gab es sehr viel zu merken... Sie hat uns allerdings eine pdf mit vielen Infos etc. später zugeschickt ;)
Aber es hat Spaß gemacht und ich glaube ein paar Sachen mir gemerkt zu haben. Vielleicht kann ich auf der Reise noch das ein oder andere mal was kochen, um in Übung zu bleiben ;-)
Zum Schluss haben wir gemeinsam gegessen. Sehr gut und ich muss sagen wir haben das gut hinbekommen! (natürlich wenn man mit einem Mentor was macht, muss einiges schief gehen, damit das Endergebnis vermasselt ist)
Es gab eine leckere Dhal Soße, Chicken Masala Curry und Auberginen als Gemüse. Als NAchtisch hab es etwas aus Karotten und Milch, auch sehr gut! Manisha hat es auch geschmeckt, also auch von ihr gab es ein Lob ^^
